Background Pony #A275
Star Swirl The Bearded Is God
They were never MEANT to do much with the villain.  
The whole point of the finale was to bring back the pillars and save Stygian.
 
For once, the challenge/conflict WASN’T stopping the threat.  
The Pony of Shadows was weakened and had very little sources of power, everything was stacked up against him.
 
The pillars could have easily beaten him by casting another spell,  
but Twilight also wanted to find a way to prevent the pillars from being sealed.
 
That’s when the TRUE conflict of the finale came to light.  
The fact that Stygian was misunderstood and harshly snubbed by the pillars.  
He was trapped in corruption and needed saving with the help of some verbal encouragement.  
Twilight didn’t see that at first, since she was blindly trusting her idol’s version of events.  
Starlight was right on the money and spelled out the whole moral dilemma regarding her own circumstance.
 
Overall I think it’s a finale that grows upon several re-watches.  
The amount of story and lore was incredible.
Background Pony #8D2B
@cloudkicker108  
alright….
cloudkicker108
Birthday Cake - Celebrated MLP's 7th birthday

かたわれ時
@Background Pony #9B69  
True, but that doesn’t mean the PoS was ineffective as antagonist or that Haber should be given a hard time for this minor flaw.
Background Pony #8D2B
@cloudkicker108  
but it still dose not excuse the fact they did hardley anything with the villain
cloudkicker108
Birthday Cake - Celebrated MLP's 7th birthday

かたわれ時
@Background Pony #9B69  
I wouldn’t say it’s filler; that would imply everything that happened after the Pony of Shadows made his escape was secondary or of lesser importance. Although we didn’t get to see what the Pony of Shadows was up to, we were given a look into the interesting dynamics between some the characters, notably Twilight, Starlight, and Starswirl. The interactions between them play into the final confrontation with PoS.
Ihhh
Duck - Likes to sockpuppet for drama
Duck - 1104243, just... 1104243
My Little Pony - 1992 Edition

<<<<<
@zippysqrl  
What’s your point?
ZippySqrl
HARD WERK - Merited Perfect Pony Plot Provider badge with only their own art and really hates Applejack
Solar Supporter - Fought against the New Lunar Republic rebellion on the side of the Solar Deity (April Fools 2023).
Preenhub - We all know what you were up to this evening~
Twinkling Balloon - Took part in the 2021 community collab.
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2020) - Took part in the 2020 Community Collab
The Magic of Friendship Grows - For helping others attend the 2020 Community Collab
Lady's Wink -
Toola Roola - For helping others attend the 2019 Community Collab
Wallet After Summer Sale -
Friendship, Art, and Magic (2019) - Celebrated Derpibooru's seventh year anniversary with friends

Tired Artist
@Ihhh  
it’s all filler, to pad out the toy adverts.
Ihhh
Duck - Likes to sockpuppet for drama
Duck - 1104243, just... 1104243
My Little Pony - 1992 Edition

<<<<<
@Background Pony #9B69  
Do you even know what filler is?
Background Pony #8D2B
@cloudkicker108  
but it would have been so awesome to see what he cloud have done but nope they went with filler
cloudkicker108
Birthday Cake - Celebrated MLP's 7th birthday

かたわれ時
@Background Pony #9B69  
Must we continue to give Haber flak for every single flaw in the episodes he’s written? While the Pony of Shadows admittedly did not have much of a presence after his initial introduction until the final battle, he still posed a legitimate threat to all of Equestria. As explained in the finale, he was traveling all over Equestria gathering darkness to build up his power, and until the cutie map showed them exactly where to go, the heroines had practically no clue where he was.
Background Pony #8D2B
ah so this is why the villain did nothing because he worte it
cloudkicker108
Birthday Cake - Celebrated MLP's 7th birthday

かたわれ時
@MDL  
Glad I’m not the only one who feels that way.
@Hidden Phantom  
Tbh I loved this finale and hated every other one of Habers big eps. Happily surprised
To Where and Back Again was one of the best two parters, you hush.
Amethyst_Crystal
My Little Pony - 1992 Edition
Dream Come True! - Participated in the MLP 9th Anniversary Event
A Tale For The Ages - Celebrated MLP's 35th Anniversary and FiM's 8th Anniversary
Magical Inkwell - Wrote MLP fanfiction consisting of at least around 1.5k words, and has a verified link to the platform of their choice
Birthday Cake - Celebrated MLP's 7th birthday
The End wasn't The End - Found a new home after the great exodus of 2012

Goth Hippie Nerd Pony
@Poptard  
@IceKitsune  
I found season 7 to be surprisingly satisfying throughout too.  
I enjoyed practically every episode.
northern haste
Cutest Little Devil - Celebrated the 14th anniversary of MLP:FIM!
Rainbow Rocks 10th Anniversary: Sonata Dusk - Celebrated the 10th anniversary of EQG Rainbow Rocks!
Nightmare in the Moon - Had their OC in the 2024 Derpibooru Collab.
Pixel Perfection - I still call her Lightning Bolt
Silly Pony - Celebrated the 13th anniversary of MLP:FIM, and 40 years of MLP!
Shimmering Smile - Celebrated the 10th anniversary of Equestria Girls!
Solar Supporter - Fought against the New Lunar Republic rebellion on the side of the Solar Deity (April Fools 2023).
Roseluck - Had their OC in the 2023 Derpibooru Collab.
King Sombra - Celebrated the 10th anniversary of The Crystal Empire!
A Lovely Nightmare Night - Celebrated the 12th anniversary of MLP:FIM!

Enter if you dare
@Dizzy Pen  
it was less anti-climactic than the other than villain defeats with the elements of harmony but it was more than just hitting with the magic
@cloudkicker108  
Given his track record with two-parters, he has all the right to assume the worst. Although in my opinion Shadow Play was his most decent two-parter. The ending sucked hard, and was a major anti-climax to the built up, but at least it wasn’t something that was pulled out of nowhere and the rest of the episode was really solid (especially the flashback).  
Definitely better than the contrived messes that were The Crystalling and To Where And Back Again.
Background Pony #8254
Poptard
Every pony has fans - Derpi Supporter
Silver Bit -
Diamond -
Wallet After Summer Sale -
Not a Llama - Happy April Fools Day!
Happy Derpy! -
Silver Supporter -
The End wasn't The End - Found a new home after the great exodus of 2012

The Tastiest
@IceKitsune
 
I really wonder what changed between seasons. I know we had a few new writers working and that a lot of the old main writers were workin in the movie, but is that the real answer? Maybe it’s a season where fans of the earlier seasons are now calling the shots, or something else.
IceKitsune
Non-Fungible Trixie -
My Little Pony - 1992 Edition
Wallet After Summer Sale -

Pre-G4 Art Archivist
@Poptard  
But unlike the Titanic, it didn’t sink in the end. I would say this is the best season of the show Overall. Very few mediocre episodes and tons of great ones.
Poptard
Every pony has fans - Derpi Supporter
Silver Bit -
Diamond -
Wallet After Summer Sale -
Not a Llama - Happy April Fools Day!
Happy Derpy! -
Silver Supporter -
The End wasn't The End - Found a new home after the great exodus of 2012

The Tastiest
Well now, that was actually a great piece of television. Good and believable character drama, lots of callbacks, and no Deus Ex Machinas to spoil your satisfaction. Season 7 has was like the Titanic: a great piece of television, but the ship was full of leaks.
LordDusk2014
Wallet After Summer Sale -
Birthday Cake - Celebrated MLP's 7th birthday
Artist -

Commentator
@Background Pony #41A2  
Hate to break it to you, but those two aren’t plumbers anymore according to Nintendo.
Siarnaq (Model P)

Sonic/Furry Trash
>Josh Haber  
Welp, this is going to suck.